N.C. police uncover 5,000 pot plants

By Martha Quillin The News & Observer

BROADWAY, N.C. — Since a drug-spotting plane from the state Highway Patrol found 35,000 marijuana plants growing in the Harnett County woods last month, Sheriff Larry Rollins has been wondering: How much more is out there?

At least another 5,000 plants, it turned out, found by a commercial pilot Rollins hired to fly over the county in search of the clandestine crop. The pilot found the operation in a remote, heavily forested area near the community of Broadway. Investigators raided the site Monday after watching it for a week.